The Kona Brewing Company’s second pub (the original is on the Big Island) is the perfect place to sit back, enjoy a hearty lunch, and sample award-winning, locally brewed beer as you look out onto the water in the East O‘ahu neighborhood of Hawai‘i Kai, especially if you’ve just finished hiking Koko Crater or snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. It’s also a great place to listen to local live music (Thursday-Sunday nights, see their website for the music calendar).

People love KBC because there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for local fish, a soup and/or salad, killer pizza, juicy burger or a bowl of pasta, it’s all here–including vegan and vegetarian options. The kitchen staff tries to be as accommodating as possible when it comes to allergies and dietary restrictions. Some favorite dishes at this Koko Marina location are the Kuliou‘ou Crab Cakes or the Garlic Twists (both starters) and the Seared Local Fish Salad or the Puna Pie Pizza (main dishes).

If you have a designated driver, go ahead and start with the Sampler, which gives you a choice of four different 5-oz beer samples. KBC’s most popular brews are as follows: Longboard (lager), Fire Rock (pale ale), Hula Hefeweizen, Castaway IPA,the Black Sand Porter (dark, full malt) and much more. For those who aren’t beer lovers, no worries – there’s a full bar!

Note: Service is generally good and the staff is nice, but if you’re in a rush, please keep in mind that the swiftness of their service can be hit or miss.